Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 185W, on crime, how many incidents of street drinking were recorded in each police force area in 2007-08.

Alan Johnson: The Home Office does not centrally collect data on incidents of street drinking. You may wish to view the data on consumption within a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) which is provided in the table.
	Within a DPPO area it is not an offence to consume alcohol. The offence is committed when a person, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement of a police constable to refrain from consuming alcohol (Section 12 (4) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001).
	The number of PNDs issued for failure to comply with a requirement by a constable within a Designated Public Place Order are as follows:
	485 in 2004, 712 in 2005, 1,061 in 2006 and 1,544 in 2007.
	Data for 2008 will be available in autumn 2009.
	
		
			  Nu mber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty, and issued with a level 2 fine( 1)  at all courts for offences relating to the Police Reform Act 2002 Sch.4 Para.5 (Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 S.12). Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 in England and Wales, 2003 - 07( 2,3,4) 
			  Fine amount( 5) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Total fines  Fines up to £200  Fines over £200 and up to £500 
			 2003 108 94 73 72 — 
			 2004 122 96 78 78 — 
			 2005 101 76 63 62 1 
			 2006 101 73 59 59 — 
			 2007 113 98 76 75 1 
			 (1) A 'level 2' fine does not specify a minimum fine amount, only the statutory maximum for the given offence; therefore all fines in the above table could be classed as 'level 2' fines. There are a number of factors including the defendants' ability to pay that will affect the courts' decision to impose a fine and fine amounts should not solely be taken as an indication of the seriousness of the offence or offender. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Police Reform Act 2002 Sch.4 Para.5 (Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001 S.12). Criminal Justice & Police Act 2001 S12. Contravene a community support officers' requirement not to consume liquor. Penalty offence under S.1 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001—alcohol consumption in designated public places. (5) Following quality assurance checks, one fine amount in 2003 has been removed. This amount was greater than the maximum permissible fine. Therefore the number of fines and the fine amount totals in 2003 will not match each other.  Source: OCJR—E & A: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit

DNA: Databases

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 10 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1767-8W, on genetics: databases, what proportion of DNA records of people  (a) arrested but not charged for an offence,  (b) arrested, charged but not convicted of an offence and  (c) arrested, charged and convicted of an offence have resulted in matches with crime scene profiles.

Alan Campbell: As the National DNA Database does not hold data on whether those with records on it have been charged or convicted, the information requested is not available.

Entry Clearances

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications from  (a) Pakistan and  (b) Afghanistan have been rejected by the Abu Dhabi hub after being forwarded for clearance by the entry clearance officers in Islamabad (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) since 27 October 2008.

Alan Johnson: No visa applications were forwarded by entry clearance officers in Islamabad to the visa section in Abu Dhabi for assessment before 27 October 2008. Between 27 October 2008 and 31 May 2009, 18,036 of the applications that have been forwarded from Pakistan have been refused. These include applications from both Pakistani and Afghan nationals.
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Afghanistan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications for entry into the UK have been made in Afghanistan  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) since 27 October 2008.

Alan Johnson: There is no visa application centre in Afghanistan, nor has there been one in the past five years.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications have been checked for fraud by entry clearance officers in Islamabad  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) since 27 October 2008.

Alan Johnson: All visa applications have been checked for fraud in the last five years.
	Prior to 27 October 2008, Entry Clearance Officers in Pakistan conducted passport forgery checks in all cases that had been approved for issue and document verification teams augmented this by checking supporting documents. Since 27 October 2008 the passport forgery check has been extended to all applications and supporting document verification takes place in over 80 per cent. of applications.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications for entry into the UK have been made in Pakistan in  (a) each of the last five years and  (b) since 27 October 2008.

Alan Johnson: The number of visa applications for entry to the UK that have been lodged in Pakistan since 1 January 2004 are as follows:
	
		
			   Visa applications lodged in Pakistan 
			 2004 188,855 
			 2005 168,019 
			 2006 204,049 
			 2007 175,966 
			 2008 (1 January to 26 October) 132,855 
			 27 October 2008 to 31 May 2009 66,415 
		
	
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.

Firearms: Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 593W, on firearms: crime, how many firearms offences (excluding those involving air weapons) were recorded in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1998.

Alan Johnson: Available data relate to offences recorded in the period 1998-99 up to and including 2007-08, and are shown in the following table. Data for the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 by police force area were published in table 2.12 of "Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2007-08", an internet-only Home Office Statistical Bulletin available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0209.pdf
	Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used as a threat.
	The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Data for the years up to and including 2001-02 are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded by the police in which firearms (including air weapons) were reported to have been used( 1)  by region and police force area: England and Wales, 1998-99 to 2007-08 
			  Recorded crime 
			   Number of offences 
			  Police force area  1998-99( 2)  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02( 3)  2002-03( 4)  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  North East Region   
			 Cleveland 20 26 16 24 18 45 37 41 19 15 
			 Durham 13 40 18 19 16 15 21 18 14 45 
			 Northumbria 76 107 99 86 103 169 182 137 111 78 
			
			  North West Region   
			 Cheshire 32 22 44 50 31 44 61 71 41 59 
			 Cumbria 11 5 13 9 13 11 26 18 21 18 
			 Greater Manchester 647 875 935 1,361 1,240 1,275 1,268 1,200 993 1,160 
			 Lancashire 50 78 59 103 66 58 259 372 364 349 
			 Merseyside 286 240 278 299 318 483 491 485 410 398 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber Region   
			 Humberside 76 61 69 63 68 68 174 108 117 58 
			 North Yorkshire 11 8 9 28 18 23 13 15 14 17 
			 South Yorkshire 75 114 129 170 153 127 185 301 211 202 
			 West Yorkshire 193 191 335 332 333 269 318 355 319 332 
			
			  East Midlands Region   
			 Derbyshire 52 65 72 58 73 75 149 109 83 70 
			 Leicestershire 98 71 58 74 174 141 123 89 109 134 
			 Lincolnshire 16 19 24 22 37 26 90 72 45 41 
			 Northamptonshire 54 48 40 55 107 123 113 128 159 164 
			 Nottinghamshire 112 173 157 204 264 233 303 277 196 240 
			
			  West Midlands Region   
			 Staffordshire 23 53 108 116 131 108 144 128 94 123 
			 Warwickshire 20 14 39 53 62 102 73 80 90 107 
			 West Mercia 38 36 41 54 48 62 151 115 58 124 
			 West Midlands 407 664 817 1,288 1,101 1,138 959 946 979 974 
			
			  East of England Region   
			 Bedfordshire 46 56 48 82 86 89 94 103 86 83 
			 Cambridgeshire 35 43 31 49 57 34 50 34 24 30 
			 Essex 47 61 77 98 148 145 193 280 255 260 
			 Hertfordshire 30 36 36 69 139 138 139 114 89 112 
			 Norfolk 34 24 20 26 36 33 23 29 34 43 
			 Suffolk 15 18 22 15 28 45 59 58 42 38 
			
			 London Region(5) 2,034 2,945 3,036 4,199 4,202 3,891 3,697 3,884 3,331 3,399 
			
			  South East Region   
			 Hampshire 38 52 49 58 97 130 148 85 122 100 
			 Kent 76 109 108 60 64 65 100 142 92 82 
			 Surrey 35 42 52 40 34 88 63 87 60 70 
			 Sussex 115 119 110 155 136 82 67 85 84 69 
			 Thames Valley 96 107 198 267 362 421 437 401 332 322 
			
			  South West Region   
			 Avon and Somerset 71 103 100 131 119 123 196 167 138 116 
			 Devon and Cornwall 75 81 64 52 36 84 189 174 132 111 
			 Dorset 11 12 14 34 17 45 49 27 28 21 
			 Gloucestershire 22 21 23 89 92 108 87 77 65 43 
			 Wiltshire 19 10 13 26 60 53 49 43 69 49 
			
			  Wales   
			 Dyfed-Powys 16 13 26 26 17 37 40 21 17 25 
			 Gwent 26 19 11 18 52 74 85 53 33 47 
			 North Wales 26 10 6 6 18 11 60 88 98 53 
			 South Wales 31 52 67 56 74 47 104 71 67 84 
			
			 England and Wales 5,209 6,843 7,471 10,024 10,248 10,338 11,069 11,088 9,645 9,865 
			
			 England and Wales (excluding London region) 3,175 3,898 4,435 5,825 6,046 6,447 7,372 7,204 6,314 6,466 
			 (1) Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person or used as a threat. (2) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998. (3) Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002. (4) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002, which may have resulted in inflated figures for some crime categories. Figures before and after this date are not directly comparable. (5) City of London and Metropolitan police force areas.

Human Trafficking

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1087-88W, on human trafficking, how many  (a) arrests and  (b) convictions there were for human trafficking offences in each police force area in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: It is not possible to break down the arrest and convictions for each of the last five years.
	Figures from the UKHTC indicate that since the inception of the dedicated legislation, there have been a total of 568 arrests for human trafficking offences which have resulted in a total of 114 convictions. The figures for the number of arrests which are set out by force area below include 100 cases on which the outcome is not yet known.
	
		
			   Arrests  Convictions 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 7 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 23 0 
			 Cheshire 2 1 
			 Cleveland 3 0 
			 Cumbria 1 0 
			 Derbyshire 11 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 8 3 
			 Dorset 3 1 
			 Durham 1 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 2 0 
			 Essex 11 0 
			 Gloucestershire 7 0 
			 Greater Manchester 63 8 
			 Gwent 2 0 
			 Hampshire 14 1 
			 Hertfordshire 6 0 
			 Humberside 1 0 
			 Kent 7 4 
			 Lancashire 18 6 
			 Leicestershire 15 3 
			 Lincolnshire 2 0 
			 Metropolitan 129 43 
			 City of London 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 
			 Norfolk 5 0 
			 Northamptonshire 11 0 
			 Northumbria 7 1 
			 North Wales 3 0 
			 North Yorkshire 8 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 17 0 
			 South Wales 20 6 
			 South Yorkshire 22 10 
			 Staffordshire 4 0 
			 Suffolk 9 0 
			 Surrey 8 3 
			 Sussex 27 0 
			 Thames Valley 9 4 
			 Warwickshire 5 5 
			 West Mercia 9 3 
			 West Midlands 44 5 
			 West Yorkshire 14 5 
			 Wiltshire 6 0 
			 BTP 4 0

Written Questions: Government Responses

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Question 266584, tabled on 25 March 2009, on public service agreement targets.

Liam Byrne: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1344W, on USA: military alliances, on what date and at which location the June 2009 Stocktake meeting between the Government and the US administration under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement is scheduled to take place; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the programme for the meeting.

Quentin Davies: The 33rd meeting of the UK/US Stocktake was held in the Ministry of Defence, Main Building, Whitehall, London on Tuesday 9 June. The programme comprised discussions on nuclear threat reduction, warhead, and platform issues, together with a consideration of potential future exchanges.
	I am withholding a copy of the programme for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1489W, on departmental conditions of employment, what timetable he has set for the consideration of the standardisation of processes in areas such as travel and subsistence claims and annual performance.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is considering standardisation of human resource processes and detailed work on initial key areas, such as developing e-recruitment, is under way.
	The specific issues identified by the National Audit Office as needing addressing in the medium-term, including the approach to travel and subsistence claims and annual performance appraisals, are not yet planned in detail. Specific timetables to address these have not yet been scheduled.

Royal Family: Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2009,  Official Report, column 15W, on Royal Family: travel, what steps his Department takes to assess whether travel arrangements proposed by the Royal Travel Office and Royal Household  (a) achieve value for money and  (b) minimise environmental impact before providing funding for them.

Paul Clark: Decisions on air and rail travel arrangements for members of the royal family are taken by the royal travel office with regard to agreed criteria, including the need to achieve value for money and minimise the environmental impact.
	The royal household seeks to contract in the most economic and efficient way for the supply of air and rail services, consistent with the safety and security of members of the royal family and other key requirements of royal travel. The royal household ensures it takes financial considerations fully into account when framing, reaching, or giving effect to decisions which bear upon the royal travel grant in aid budget.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much  (a) electricity and  (b) gas was used (i) on his Department's estate and (ii) by his Department's agencies in each year from its inception to 2008-09.

Michael Wills: The tables show the quantity of electricity and gas used in the financial year April 2007 to March 2008, although the Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007 and therefore the figures for the core estate provided include the energy consumption of the Department of Constitutional Affairs' core estate between 1 April and 9 May. Similarly, the figures for the National Offender Management Service's (NOMS) custodial property include the period from 1 April to 9 May when NOMS was part of the Home Office's estate.
	The Ministry of Justice is in the process of collating data for 2008-09. This will be made available in the Sustainable Development in Government Report later this year.
	
		
			  MoJ HQ core estate 
			  Energy type  Annual consumption kWh 
			 Electricity 20179413 
			 Natural Gas 7417634 
		
	
	
		
			  Her Majesty's Courts Service 
			  Energy type  Annual consumption kWh 
			 Electricity 143502717 
			 Natural Gas 142798412 
		
	
	
		
			  Tribunals Service 
			  Energy type  Annual consumption kWh 
			 Electricity 7487197 
			 Natural Gas 741894 
		
	
	
		
			  National Offender Management Service (custodial property) 
			  Energy type  Annual consumption kWh 
			 Electricity 316055628 
			 Natural Gas 810129566 
		
	
	
		
			  The National Archives 
			  Energy Type  Annual  c onsumption kWh 
			 Electricity 12477836 
			 Natural Gas 7773972 
		
	
	
		
			  Her Majesty's Land Registry 
			  Energy type  Annual consumption kWh 
			 Electricity 20687222 
			 Natural Gas 21252152

Prisoners Release: Reoffenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009,  Official Report, column 346, on prisoners release: re-offenders, when he expects to have re-offending data in respect of offenders who are subject to a home detention curfew.

Jack Straw: I apologise to the hon. Member that the audit process has taken longer than anticipated. The data will be available before summer recess, when I will write to the hon. Member, placing a copy of the reply in the Library.

Prisons: West Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 82-3W, on prisons: construction, by what process  (a) the National Offender Management Service and  (b) his Department were made aware of the potential site for a Titan prison at Scarisbrick; which location in Scarisbrick was identified as a potential site; what information his Department holds on the present owner of the site; on what date his Department designated the site at Scarisbrick as a potential location for a Titan prison; and by whom that decision was taken.

Jack Straw: In early 2008, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) commissioned site search agents to identify potential sites for "Titan" prisons in various parts of the country, including the North West.
	Among the sites identified in the North-West was a 200 acre golf course at Southport Road, Scarisbrick, L40 8HB. This site was identified on 13 May 2008 by our site search agents but was considered unsuitable by them, an assessment that was subsequently endorsed by NOMS on 16 May 2008. The reason for this was that a golf course in a rural location did not meet the specific requirement for a site close to an urban conurbation with good transport links.
	We do not hold information on the current owners of the site as it was rejected at a very early stage of the assessment process.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much  (a) electricity and  (b) gas was used on her Office's estate in each year from its inception to 2008-09.

Tessa Jowell: My ministerial portfolio requires my Office to operate across the estates of the Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The costs for  (a) electricity and  (b) gas will be included in the answers provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much was spent on energy efficiency measures for her Office's estate in each year from its inception to 2009; what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of that expenditure; and what plans she has for future energy efficiency measures.

Tessa Jowell: My ministerial portfolio requires my Office to operate across the estates of the Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Energy efficiency measures, assessment of the effectiveness of these measures and future plans for energy efficiency measures will be included in the answers provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which official is responsible for the energy efficiency of her Office's estate.

Tessa Jowell: My ministerial portfolio requires my Office to operate across the estates of the Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The responsibility for energy efficiency will be included in the answers provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith) and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Gambling: Internet

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will submit to the European Commission a paper giving the Government's opinion on the legislation proposed by the French government on the operation of its domestic online gambling market; and if he will discuss with the government of Malta the likely effects of its policy on that matter on UK leisure and gaming businesses.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK Government have submitted comments to the European Commission under the technical notification procedure on the French legislative proposals in relation to online gambling. We are concerned that some of the measures contained in the notification may constitute restrictions to trade and our comments have emphasised the need for any restrictions to be justified by imperative reasons in the general interest; to be suitable for achieving the objectives in question; are necessary and proportionate; and applied in a non-discriminatory manner, as interpreted by decisions of the European Court of Justice.
	I have no plans to conduct formal discussions with the Government of Malta over this matter although my officials found the detailed opinions submitted by the Government of Malta and the European Commission helpful when considering this issue.

Sports: Finance

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department made available to maintain and improve sporting facilities in  (a) the borough of Test Valley and  (b) Southampton in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has allocated Sport England over £480 million of Exchequer funding in the last five years, to invest in community sport both through National Governing Bodies and more specific local initiatives.
	In addition, in 2009-10, the Department has allocated Sport England £135.7 million of Exchequer funding. Sport England has targets to get 1 million people doing more sport by 2012-13, and to make a major contribution to the delivery of the five hour sports offer for children and young people. Test Valley and Southampton will benefit, alongside every area of England, from Exchequer and Lottery investment by Sport England in 2009-10 in support of these targets.
	Specifically, Sport England have advised that the following initiatives have received funding to support participation in sport in Test Valley and Southampton.
	 Free Swimming
	Southampton Unitary Authority has opted in to the Under 16 and Over 60 Free Swimming Programme and has received £173,211. The local authorities that have opted to offer the scheme to both age groups have also received a share of a £10 million capital fund to spend on modernising or improving pool provision. Southampton has received £69,290 in this regard.
	 Sportsmatch
	There have been two awards in the Test Valley area totalling £13,580 under the Sportsmatch scheme which aims to support the development of grassroots sport in England.
	 Southampton Amateur Rowing Club
	Two payments in the last five years totalling £179,487 have been made for renovation and refurbishment work.
	 Southampton Amateur Gym Club
	Three payments in the last five years totalling £258,414 have been made for renovation and refurbishment work.

Departmental Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) electricity and  (b) gas was used (i) on his Department's and its predecessor's estate and (ii) by his Department's and its predecessor's agencies in each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09.

Shahid Malik: The Department for Communities and Local Government, its predecessors and its Executive agencies used the following quantities of electricity and gas each year from 2004-05:
	
		
			  Electricity consumption 
			   CLG estate  Executive agencies 
			 2004-05 10,744,962 15,311,717 
			 2005-06 12,642,144 12,700,819 
			 2006-07 13,018,289 12,889,192 
			 2007-08 10,850,743 11,751,470 
			 2008-09 n/k n/k 
		
	
	
		
			  Gas  consumption 
			   CLG estate  Executive agencies 
			 2004-05 9,273,713 20,434,155 
			 2005-06 9,339,992 20,740,911 
			 2006-07 8,769,886 12,889,192 
			 2007-08 6,329,978 18,084,384 
			 2008-09 n/k n/k 
		
	
	Data collation for 2008-09 are still in progress. The Department expects to complete and verify this process by September 2009.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of unsold new build properties.

Ian Austin: Information on the total number of unsold new build properties is not held centrally.
	Where the Homes and Communities Agency has allocated grant for the purchase of unsold stock through their Affordable Housing Programme these figures have been provided to the hon. Member on 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1115W.

International Renewable Energy Agency

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in  (a) Germany,  (b) Austria,  (c) Denmark and  (d) the United Arab Emirates on their bids to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 June 2009
	 My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the headquarters of the International Renewable Agency (IRENA) with the German, Austrian or Danish Foreign Ministers. He has discussed the issue with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the German Environment Minister. He stressed with both that, as the UK was not a member of IRENA and so had no voting rights, the UK would not take a formal position on where the headquarters should be situated.

Pakistan: Ethnic Groups

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Pakistan on the treatment of minorities in that country.

Ivan Lewis: My hon. Friend, the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, (Gillian Merron), visited Pakistan in February 2009 and met the Pakistani Minister for Human Rights, Mumtaz Gilani and the Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti. During these meetings, she pressed for more action to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan. Ms Merron also called for a review of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which are frequently abused and lead to significant discrimination against minorities.
	Bilaterally and with our EU partners we continue to call upon the Government of Pakistan to promote the concept of freedom of religion and belief and to initiate early reform of the discriminatory blasphemy legislation.
	In the course of their duties, officials at our high commission in Islamabad regularly meet with members of the Government of Pakistan to discuss the human rights situation in Pakistan.

Somalia: Piracy

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1425W, when the next meeting of Working Group 1 of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia will be; and what matters will be discussed at the meeting.

Ivan Lewis: Working Group 1 met informally on 10 June 2009 in the margins of the Seoul High-Level Meeting on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. It discussed regional capability development priorities with the representatives of regional countries and other international partners. The next formal meeting is planned to take place in London on 10 July 2009. The meeting is likely again to focus predominantly on regional capability development needs and priorities, although an agenda is yet to be finalised.

Uganda: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on progress on peace negotiations between the Lords Resistance Army and the government of Uganda.

Ivan Lewis: The Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) agreed a peace settlement, the Final Peace Agreement (FPA), in April 2008 after almost two years of negotiations mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan. The leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony, refused to sign the FPA, most recently in November 2008, in the absence of a guarantee of immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court. LRA activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Southern Sudan, including abductions and attacks on civilians, have continued in the interim.
	The Governments of Uganda, the DRC and the Government of Southern Sudan began joint military action against the LRA in December 2008. The Government of Uganda has stated that it remains committed to the FPA but is not prepared to re-open negotiation of the terms of the agreement with the LRA. There are no negotiations currently in train.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 244W, on Ministerial policy advisers, how much was spent on severance payments to special advisers in each year prior to 2007-08 for which records are held.

Angela Smith: Since 2002-03, the Government have published information about the numbers and cost of special advisers, including the cost of severance payments. The total cost of severance payments to special advisers in each year from 2002-03 to 2006-07 is set out as follows.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 92,686 
			 2003-04 85,329 
			 2004-05 78,624 
			 2005-06 955,895 
			 2006-07 171,521 
		
	
	As has been the practice of successive administrations, severance payments to special advisers are made in line with the contractual provisions set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers".

Apprentices: Local Government

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2009,  Official Report, column 599W, on apprentices: local government, how many  (a) apprentices and  (b) advanced apprentices are employed by each local authority.

Kevin Brennan: We do not hold centrally data on the number of apprentices employed by each local authority. The Government are committed to developing and expanding apprenticeships in the public sector and earlier this year Cabinet colleagues announced plans for the expansion of the apprenticeships scheme across the public sector. We announced a £140 million package to deliver 35,000 extra places this year of which 21,000 would be in the public sector.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

Andrew Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons the Learning and Skills Council has not taken decisions on colleges' capital programme in accordance with its originally planned timetable; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 17 June 2009
	As set out by the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) acting chief executive, Geoff Russell, in his letter of 2 June, many more colleges have put forward a case for their projects to be considered as "shovel ready" than expected, and so unfortunately the LSC were not in a position to ask its June Council to approve individual projects.
	Mr. Russell has, however, stated that an announcement will be made by the end of this month as to which projects will go through to the next stage of the prioritisation process.

Learning and Skills Council: Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council has spent on consultants in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not hold this level of information. The Learning and Skills Council makes decisions about the employment of consultants based upon its own business needs. Geoff Russell, the Council's acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House

Overseas Students: Fees and Charges

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the monetary value of overseas student  (a) fees and  (b) spending to the economy.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 June 2009
	The latest estimates, taken from the "Global Value" report published by the British Council in September 2007, are that international students in further and higher education were estimated to contribute £2.2 billion in tuition fee and £3.1 billion in other spending in 2003-04. Tuition and other spending in relation to students on English language courses was estimated at £1.1 billion.

Chemistry: GCE A-level

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1073W, on GCE A-level, how many and what percentage of the 187 schools that did not enter any pupils for an A-level in chemistry in 2006-07 entered at least one pupil for an A-level in applied science in that year.

Vernon Coaker: Of the 187 maintained mainstream schools that did not enter any pupils for an A-level in chemistry in 2006/07, 22 (12 per cent.) entered at least one candidate for a single or double award A-level in applied science in the same year.

Children In Care: Missing Persons

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1067W, how many of the children who have gone missing from care have not been found;
	(2)  what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of children who go missing from care homes.

Dawn Primarolo: Following a consultation, the Government plan to publish revised statutory guidance about children missing from home or care shortly. This will set out the steps that must be followed whenever any child in care goes missing. This includes the local authority working with partner agencies such as the police, so that there is a systematic response whenever a child in care goes missing from their care placement.
	The National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes and Fostering Services require that all homes and fostering services should have explicit procedures to follow when children in their care may be missing or absent. We will be strengthening these Standards later this year and will include more specific guidance on action which should be taken when a child goes missing from a residential or foster home.
	The Government have also launched the Young Runaways Action Plan. This brings together cross Government action on children who run away from home or care and places particular emphasis on vulnerable children such as those who have been trafficked. More generally, a national indicator on young runaways, introduced in April this year, now requires LAs to have in place protocols for the inter-agency response to run-aways and missing children, including preventative measures.
	The requested information on the number of children who have gone missing from care who have not been found is not held centrally by the Department. It is not possible to derive the number of children missing from care who have never been found, because we can only account for the situation at the end of the last completed data collection year. Children missing at the end of the data year may subsequently return into care. Information on looked after children can be found in "Statistical First Release Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2008", which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/index.shtml
	Table A3 shows the number looked after at 31 March each year by their placement type at 31 March, which includes a category to show those looked after who were absent from their agreed placement at that time. At 31 March 2008, the number absent from their agreed placement was 150.

Grammar Schools

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children attended grammar schools in each year since 2007; what proportion of the secondary school population this figure represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The requested information is shown in the table:
	
		
			  State-funded secondary( 1)  and grammar schools: number of pupils( 2) —as at January each year in England 
			   Number of pupils attending grammar schools  Number of pupils attending secondary schools  Percentage of pupils attending grammar schools( 3) 
			 2007 156,800 3,321,530 4.7 
			 2008 157,410 3,289,000 4.8 
			 2009 (provisional) 158,610 3,256,120 4.9 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed, and CTCs and academies. (2) Solely registered pupils only. (3) Expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils attending all secondary schools.  Note: Pupil number have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Pre-school Education: Per Capita Costs

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many nursery school places there are per head of population in each local authority area.

Dawn Primarolo: All local authorities in England have a duty to secure sufficient childcare places to meet the requirements of parents in their area in order to enable them to work or undertake education or training leading to work. They must also secure free early years provision for pre-school children of a prescribed age.
	The Department publishes information on the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four year-olds. This is derived by counting children taking up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half hours per week as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places.
	The latest information on the number of free early education places filled by three and four year-olds can be found in Table 5 of the Statistical First Release "Provision for Children Under Five Years of Age in England: January 2009". The latest figures can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000848/index.shtml
	Information on nursery school places per head of population has not been included. This is because children can access their free entitlement across different local authority areas and therefore part time equivalent places are not on an equivalent basis with the local authority population figures. Population figures at this level of disaggregation are also not as reliable as at the national level.

Pupils: Obesity

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what training and professional development is provided for teachers of physical education to ensure that children classified as overweight and obese receive appropriate assistance to participate in physical activity at school.

Iain Wright: The PE and sport professional development programme is raising the quality of teaching and learning in PE and sport in schools. As part of the programme, schools are supported in carrying out an audit of their professional development needs in PE and sport. Schools can then choose, free of charge, from a menu of professional development resources designed to address these needs. The programme includes resources aimed specifically at getting young people more active, whatever their circumstances. The recent Ofsted report - "Physical Education in Schools, 2005/08" praised the Professional Development programme for the way it was improving the quality of teaching and learning in PE and sport in schools.
	As announced in Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: One Year On, the Government are currently exploring the development of a further focus within the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People which specifically helps overweight and obese children to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the funding allocation per secondary school pupil is in  (a) Northamptonshire and  (b) England in 2009-10.

Vernon Coaker: The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) guaranteed per pupil unit of funding (GUF) for 2009-10 for Northamptonshire local authority and England are shown in the following table. There is funding from the learning and skills council and other grants that support the schools budget whose allocations have not yet been finalised for 2009-10. Separate figures are not available for secondary schools as funding is not allocated by phase. The figures are for all funded pupils aged three to 15 and are in cash terms.
	
		
			   2009-10 DSG GUF 
			 Northamptonshire 3,923 
			 England 4,218

Schools: Knives

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children have been  (a) temporarily and  (b) permanently excluded from schools for (i) violent behaviour and (ii) carrying a knife in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Reasons for exclusion were collected for the first time in 2003-04. There is no category specifically on 'carrying a knife'. There are categories for verbal abuse/threatening behaviour and for physical assault.
	The latest data available is for 2006-07; information on exclusions for 2007-08 is scheduled to be published in the summer.
	Information on reasons for exclusions is published as follows:
	 2006-07
	Tables 9 and 10
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml
	 2005-06
	Table 8
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml
	 2004- 05
	Table 11
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000662/index.shtml
	 2003 - 04
	Table 11
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000582/index.shtml

Schools: Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 442W, on schools: standards, what the name is of each adviser; and how much each has cost in 2008-09.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 15 June 2009
	We do not have information on each individual adviser, or their cost, and to collect this information would involve disproportionate cost and contravene data protection rules.
	The figure of around £90 million, given in the answer of 2 June, is an estimate of the total cost of field forces which provide support and challenge to local authorities and children's trusts across the full range of children's outcomes. The largest field force supporting school standards is the national strategies and the cost of their national and regional field force in 2008-09 was around £30 million. However, this includes work on other areas such as early years and school behaviour.

Specialist Schools: Science

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, column 900W, on specialist schools: science, how many of the 433 specialist schools which had chosen science as a specialism at the time of that answer entered one or more pupils for GCSE chemistry in 2008.

Vernon Coaker: Of all 433 schools with a specialism in sciences, 311 (71.8 per cent.) entered at least one pupil for GCSE(1) chemistry in 2008.
	The source for this answer is the Achievement and Attainment Tables' database.
	(1) Only full GCSEs have been counted.

Teachers: Complaints

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average time taken for the General Teaching Council to complete its investigation of a teacher following a complaint was in the latest period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many investigations by the General Teaching Council following a complaint against a teacher took more than  (a) three months,  (b) six months,  (c) 12 months and  (d) 18 months to complete in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: When considering complaints about teachers the General Teaching Council for England has two distinct processes; an investigation process and a hearing process. The investigation process concludes either with a referral to the hearing process or with a decision that there is no case to answer.
	The average time taken for cases to be concluded in each of these processes is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Average time taken to conclude complaints 
			  Weeks 
			  Financial year  Cases concluded at investigation stage (i.e. no case to answer)  Cases concluded following a hearing 
			 2006/07 13 78 
			 2007/08 12 67 
			 2008/09 12 59 
		
	
	The timescales for considering complaints at each of these stages is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Cases concluded at investigating stage 
			  Months 
			   0 to 3  3 to 6  6 to 12  12 to 18  Over 18 
			 2006/07 171 62 16 1 2 
			 2007/08 224 59 13 4 0 
			 2008/09 222 84 11 2 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Cases concluded at hearing stage 
			  Months 
			   0 to 3  3 to 6  6 to 12  12 to 18  Over 18 
			 2006/07 0 0 11 68 44 
			 2007/08 0 2 57 38 40 
			 2008/09 0 1 75 51 24 
			  Note: Data is unavailable for the financial year 2005/06.

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  in which wards there are no primary schools with a qualified male teacher;
	(2)  pursuant to his letter of correction of 4 December 2008 to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Deposited Paper DEP2008-2997, to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 596W, on teachers: males, how many primary schools with no qualified male teachers there were in each ward in 2008.

Vernon Coaker: A table that provides the names of Census Area Statistic (CAS) wards that have nursery or primary schools without any full or part-time male qualified teacher and the number of schools in each of these to which this applies has been placed in the House Libraries. The information is for January 2008.

Teaching Assistants: Qualifications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teaching assistants in each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school have attained Higher Level Teaching Assistant status.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 4 June 2009
	The information has been placed in the House Libraries. They provide the number of higher level teaching assistants in each local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary school in England, as collected by the January 2008 School Census, the latest information available.

Alcoholic Drinks: Consumption

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) male and  (b) female average weekly alcohol consumption in each of the last 15 years.

Gillian Merron: Information about alcohol consumption is collected as part of the General Household Survey (GHS), including average weekly alcohol consumption.
	The following table gives the average weekly consumption for the last 15 years, broken down by gender. It should be noted that information on average weekly alcohol consumption is not collected every year.
	
		
			  Average weekly alcohol consumption (units), by sex for persons aged 16 and over, 1994-2006 
			   Men  Women 
			  Unweighted   
			 1994 15.4 5.4 
			 1996 16.0 6.3 
			 1998 16.4 6.4 
			  Weighted   
			 1998 17.1 6.5 
			 2000 17.4 7.1 
			 2001 17.2 7.5 
			 2002 17.2 7.6 
			 2005(1) 15.8 6.5 
			 2006(2,3) 14.8 6.2 
			 2006(2,4) 18.7 9.0 
			 (1) 2005 data includes last quarter of 2004-05 data due to survey change from financial year to calendar year.  (2) Results for 2006 include longitudinal data.  (3 )Original method.  (4 )Improved method.   Notes:  1. Weighting is a process in which GHS results are adjusted for non-response and to account for differences between the distribution of persons by age and gender; and region in the sample when compared to the population of Great Britain. Weighting is an improvement to the methodology from 1998; however, weighted data are not available before 1998, so cannot be supplied.   Source:  General Household Survey 2006: Smoking and drinking among adults 2006. 
		
	
	An improved method to calculate alcohol consumption was introduced in 2006, this was done to reflect increases in wine glass size, the increased alcoholic strength of wine and better estimates of the alcoholic strengths of beers, lagers and ciders. This is likely to mean that data for the years before 2006 understates consumption levels.

Audio Equipment: Health Hazards

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 746W, on MP3 players, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks on noise from personal music players;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 746W, on MP3 players, what his Department's policy is on the determination of safe levels of noise in relation to the use of personal music players;
	(3)  if he will take steps to increase levels of public awareness of the potential effects on hearing of listening to personal music players at high noise levels; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will take steps to encourage manufacturers of personal MP3 players to provide users of such players with information on levels of noise which may damage hearing; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  whether his Department has had discussions with manufacturers of personal music players on the potential effects on hearing of their use; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The safety and regulation of consumer products, such as personal music players is, within Government, primarily a matter for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The Department welcomes the report of the European Union's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks. The Department, advised by the Health Protection Agency, keeps under review the risks to health which may be attributed to various kinds of noise. The Department has no plans at present for an information campaign on the risks to hearing posed by the use of personal music players.

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) members of the public,  (b) health professionals,  (c) journalists and  (d) representatives of patient or service user groups have attended meetings of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence since 1 January 2009.

Ann Keen: Since 1 January 2009, there have been three Council meetings of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence. Over this period, one member of the public, no health professionals, no journalists and two representatives of patient or service user groups have attended Council meetings. Minutes and papers from Council meetings are available on the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence's website:
	www.chre.org.uk/council/60/_and_www.chre.org.uk/council/59

Departmental Energy

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of water consumption on his Department's office estate in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07, (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from offices in his Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the energy consumed per full-time equivalent member of staff in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of electricity used by his Department which was derived from renewable sources in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the amount of waste arising from his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road-based transport used for administrative operations by his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff;

Phil Hope: The Department and its Executive agencies, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and Medicines (PASA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) take part in the annual Sustainable Development in Government exercise, which enables Departments to report on their activities against the sustainable operations targets published in June 2006. For 2007-08, NHS Connecting for Health was also included.
	The following figures detailed for 2006-07 total and full-time equivalent (FTE) and for 2007-08 totals (with the exception of carbon emissions from air travel) have been published as part of the Sustainable Development in Government Report for 2007 and 2008. Copies of both reports have already been placed in the Library.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			   Total  Per FTE  Total  Per FTE 
			 Water Consumption (m(3)) 21,746 6.9 17,765 6.74 
			 Carbon Emissions from offices (tonnes CO2) 6,753 1.698 8,635 2.321 
			 Energy consumed (kWh) 18,404,426 4,628 23,099,389 6,201 
			 Percentage of electricity derived from renewable sources 99.9 — 80.8 — 
			 Amount of waste arising (tonnes) 574 0.14 743 0.227 
			 Carbon dioxide emissions arising from road based transport (tonnes CO2) 568 0.14 553 0.09 
			 Carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel (tonnes CO2) 799 0.201 1,136 0.184 
		
	
	For the core Department, the information in this answer (with the exception of carbon dioxide emissions arising from road based transport and air travel) covers the Department's central administrative estate of Richmond House, Wellington House and Skipton House. The Department is a minor occupier in New Kings Beam House (HM Revenue and Customs) and Quarry House in Leeds (Department of Work and Pensions) and the data for these sites is not available to us.
	The carbon dioxide emissions arising from road based transport and air travel cover the whole Department office estate including New Kings Beam House and Quarry House.
	For 2007-08, for the first time, NHS Connecting for Health (CfH) submitted data along with the Department and our agencies NHS PASA and MHRA. In practice, however, MHRA and CfH were only able to provide limited information because they occupy rented accommodation for which energy and water consumption data is not available. This means that the 2007-08 FTE figures for water and energy consumption are slightly skewed.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1352-58W, on the departmental internet, how many  (a) unique visitors and  (b) page impressions were received by each website operated by his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: The information is as follows:
	Page impressions and unique visitors for the last 12 months—The Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk
	
		
			   Unique visitors  Page impressions 
			 May 2009 957,734 5,479,933 
			 April 2009 969,412 5,753,565 
			 March 2009 1,033,680 6,383,331 
			 February 2009 924,026 5,642,052 
			 January 2009 1,017,122 6,205,364 
			 December 2008 696,636 4,403,460 
			 November 2008 874,024 5,578,886 
			 October 2008 849,325 5,555,268 
			 September 2008 772,629 4,717,921 
			 August 2008 580,293 3,647,145 
			 July 2008 806,832 5,122,615 
			 June 2008 964,577 5,883,074 
		
	
	Page impressions and unique visitors—The Department's advisory bodies website for the last 12 months is at:
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk
	
		
			   Unique visitors  Page impressions 
			 May 2009 20,370 130,202 
			 April 2009 20,791 119,795 
			 March 2009 22,928 151,785 
			 February 2009 19,481 133,699 
			 January 2009 20,647 143,423 
			 December 2008 19,872 156,840 
			 November 2008 26,276 181,291 
			 October 2008 26,374 190,170 
			 September 2008 20,636 133,031 
			 August 2008 18,387 126,039 
			 July 2008 22,968 137,455 
			 June 2008 30,723 147,110 
		
	
	Page impressions and unique visitors for the last 12 months—NHS Choices website.
	Page impressions from November 2008 onwards differ to those given in the answer of 4 February 2009 as these now include visitors and page impressions at:
	www.selfhelpguide.nhs.uk
	which is hosted by NHS Direct although branded NHS Choices at:
	www.nhs.uk
	
		
			   Unique visitors  Page impressions 
			 May 2009 5,295,640 32,013,540 
			 April 2009 4,458,415 28,369,471 
			 March 2009 5,189,162 33,998,656 
			 February 2009 4,300,217 29,763,052 
			 January 2009 4,264,746 29,422,915 
			 December 2008 3,125,976 21,123,054 
			 November 2008 3,231,224 22,916,827 
			 October 2008 2,421,293 14,362,161 
			 September 2008 2,068,380 12,982,408 
			 August 2008 2,017,496 13,004,201 
			 July 2008 2,154,660 14,488,807 
			 June 2008 1,933,770 12,837,873 
			  Notes: Unique visitors: the number of unique visitors that have entered a website within a given timescale. Thus, multiple visits within that given timescale are not recorded. Page impressions: also known as 'hits', this is when a website page is displayed on a visitor's browser. To provide the number of unique visitors and page hits for all other websites listed in the answer of 4 February 2009 would incur disproportionate costs.

Elderly: Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 12 of his Department's Resource Accounts for 2007-08, HC (2007-08) 1042, for what reason his Department reported slippage against its target for increasing the proportion of older people being supported to live in their own home; to what extent the target was met in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department reported slippage in the 2007-08 Department's Resource Accounts for the number of older people helped to live at home. The number of older people as at 31 March per 1,000 had decreased from 81 in 2005-06 to 80 in 2006-07 representing a decrease of 1.3 per cent. change. However, the data (when it became available in December 2008) showed that by 31 March in 2007-08 the number increased to 81 representing an increase of 1.4 per cent. change.
	There are a range of reasons to account for the change, including the potential impact of increasing the level of local eligibility criteria being met locally; an increased local focus on shorter periods of rehabilitation; the increased use of support provided through the voluntary sector such as grant funded services; and the improved information and signposting to enable people to access appropriate and relevant local support thereby reducing the numbers of older people recorded as receiving "care managed" services.

Hospitals: Admissions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there have been for  (a) measles,  (b) mumps and  (c) rubella for (i) males and (ii) females aged (A) under 10, (B) 10 to 13, (C) 14 to 17 and (D) 18 years and over in (1) each region and (2) each primary care trust in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The available information is given in the following tables. This covers activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes where the admission was for measles, mumps or rubella 
			  Measles 
			  Sex/age 
			   Male  Female  Unknown 
			   0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  18+ 
			 2007-08 147 5 10 37 114 4 12 27 — 
			 2006-07 97 1 8 22 104 8 6 33 — 
			 2005-06 36 7 5 11 38 3 2 7 — 
			 2004-05 29 — — 10 25 — — 7 — 
			 2003-04 42 3 — 10 38 5 3 10 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Mumps 
			  Sex/age 
			   Male  Female  Unknown 
			   0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  18+ 
			 2007-08 28 7 7 71 22 10 6 46 1 
			 2006-07 36 14 18 136 25 4 6 61 — 
			 2005-06 59 34 155 754 34 20 49 204 — 
			 2004-05 51 15 105 467 21 15 58 189 — 
			 2003-04 15 6 11 51 21 3 13 26 — 
		
	
	
		
			  Rubella 
			  Sex/age 
			   Male  Female  Unknown 
			   0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  0-9  10-13  14-17  18+  18+ 
			 2007-08 8 — 1 4 8 — — 8 — 
			 2006-07 5 — — 5 6 — — 6 — 
			 2005-06 9 — — 1 4 — 3 3 — 
			 2004-05 14 — 1 1 3 — 2 5 — 
			 2003-04 13 — — 2 7 — 2 5 — 
			  Notes:  1. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  2. Primary and secondary diagnoses The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (13 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.  3. Codes used to denote measles, mumps or rubella Measles B05.—Measles Mumps B26.—Mumps Rubella B06.—Rubella [German measles], P35.0 Congenital rubella syndrome. If the patient has been admitted for treatment of measles, mumps or rubella, then the code for measles, mumps or rubella would be found in a primary position, except in the following cases: a. Measles, mumps or rubella complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium; in this case, one of the following codes would precede the code for measles, mumps or rubella: O35.3 Maternal care for (suspected) damage to fetus from viral disease in mother; and O98.5 Other viral diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. b. In the case where a baby is admitted due to measles, mumps or rubella acquired after birth but within 28 days of birth (perinatal period), a code from the following categories would precede the code for measles, mumps or rubella, which would be in a secondary position: P35-P39 Infections specific to the perinatal period.  4. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  5. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in national health service practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  6. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in the data, i.e. the data are ungrossed.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Learning Disability

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1223-24W, on learning disability, by what date he expects NHS bodies and councils with social services responsibilities to satisfy themselves that failures similar to those identified by the Health Service Commissioner are not ongoing; how he intends to assess progress in that regard; whether he has directed the Care Quality Commission to take the Commissioner's report into account; what steps he plans to take to  (a) implement and  (b) monitor progress against the Commission's recommendations; and from which departmental budget payments for compensation for distress will be drawn.

Phil Hope: In November 2008, David Nicholson, chief executive of the national health service, wrote to all strategic health authorities (SHAs) to seek assurance that action is being taken across the NHS organisations in their area to promote disability equality and to implement the recommendations in "Healthcare for All", the report of Sir Jonathan Michael's independent inquiry on access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. SHAs have since given a clear commitment to supporting and monitoring implementation of the independent inquiry recommendations in their areas.
	The delivery plan for Valuing People Now, the Government's new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities, sets out the systems in place to ensure improvements across all services, including better health and healthcare for people with learning, disabilities. The national Learning Disabilities Programme Board has overall responsibility for assuring delivery of Valuing People Now. Each area has a local Learning Disability Partnership Board, which will report annually through their regional board on the action they have taken.
	The Valuing People Now healthcare steering group, which includes representation from the Care Quality Commission, has specific responsibility for overseeing delivery of the commitments on better healthcare for people with learning disabilities. It is also working with SHAs to ensure that the ombudsmen's recommendations are met, including ensuring that all NHS organisations review the systems, capacity and capability they have in place to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and report on this by March 2010.
	Individual cases should be considered at a local level, following the usual routes for redress, where appropriate.

Malnutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1028-29W, on malnutrition, in what ways the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's recent report has contributed to his Department's work on  (a) Dignity in Care,  (b) Healthy Start,  (c) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives and  (d) other relevant workstreams; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition report launched January 2009 has contributed to the work of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board; working to improve nutrition and Dignity in Care in adult social care settings and which in turn has underlined the importance in effective delivery of Healthy Start and the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives programme.

Mental Health Services: Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1238W, on children: mental health services, how many of the young people placed on adult mental health wards in each year since 2005-06 were given medication while on such wards.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally.

Social Services: Learning Disability

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with a learning disability receive social care.

Phil Hope: During the period 1 April to 31 March 2008 126,000 adults aged 18-64 with learning disabilities and 14,000 adults aged 65 and over with learning disabilities received a social care service funded either partly or wholly by their council with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in England following a community care assessment.
	Data on the number of people receiving social services funded either fully or partially by CASSR in England are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care as part of the referrals, assessments and packages of care (RAP) return.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) officials of her Department accompanied her to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009.

Jim Knight: For information relation to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1636-8W, on the departmental internet, how many  (a) unique visitors and  (b) page impressions were received by each website operated by her Department in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 June 2009
	The following tables outline  (a) unique visitors and  (b) page views (page impressions for the Jobcentre Plus website) in line with Cabinet Office guidance, for each of the websites maintained by the Department for Work and Pensions as per the answer of 9 February 2009. We cannot produce all the statistics as DWP does not hold some of the figures and due to some technical difficulties we were unable to collect all the figures for each month.
	
		
			  Table A:  Unique visitors  for the websites maintained by the Department for Work and Pension— 2008-09 
			   2008 
			  Site  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December 
			 DWP 620,492 637,574 760,610 742,472 658,287 748,565 813,280 818,521 645,387 
			 JCP 6,091,767 5,671,110 6,463,155 7,037,643 6,297,163 8,821,813 8,595,983 6,656,645 5,430,710 
			 CSA 93,381 91,371 98,856 100,352 96,790 107,056 109,204 106,554 83,589 
			 AP 15,105 19,863 23,872 16,594 11,405 12,258 8,472 7,929 6,092 
			 ESF 6,590 10,136 11,115 9,453 8,165 9,250 9,674 12,227 8,704 
			 ICE 1,505 1,496 2,026 1,775 1,831 1,550 1,642 1,499 1,265 
			 IIAC 1,631 1,495 1,550 1,506 1,264 1,402 1,404 1,262 1,034 
			 SSCA 1,135 1,510 1,594 1,037 976 979 1,047 1,875 1,044 
			 ODI 6,459 8,126 7,799 9,351 7,031 (1)— (1)— 8,754 9,524 
			 DG-D 1,434,791 1,164,606 1,243,904 315,295 292,014 330,801 350,623 (1)— (1)— 
			 DG-C 89,435 76,258 85,006 85,762 79,562 90,908 95,233 91,746 69,544 
			 DG 50+ 162,296 117,783 127,308 132,785 134,161 154,189 155,105 158,924 119,692 
			 TPS (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 304,843 307,620 359,208 244,997 
			 Total 8,524,587 7,801,328 8,826,795 8,454,025 7,588,649 10,583,614 10,449,287 8,225,144 6,621,582 
		
	
	
		
			   2009 
			  Site  January  February  March 
			 DWP 1,112,470 932,498 1,008,693 
			 JCP 10,071,434 8,247,216 (1)— 
			 CSA 132,020 109,267 (1)— 
			 AP 8,414 8,592 (1)— 
			 ESF 10,645 10,145 (1)— 
			 ICE 1,783 1,625 (1)— 
			 IIAC 1,395 1,384 (1)— 
			 SSCA 1,328 1,141 (1)— 
			 ODI 10,450 (1)— (1)— 
			 DG-D (1)— 384,892 (1)— 
			 DG-C 129,362 110,703 (1)— 
			 DG 50+ 256,358 204,867 227,434 
			 TPS 412,872 337,812 487,977 
			 Total 12,148,531 10,350,142 1,724,104 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Page views for the websites maintained by the Department for Work and Pensions—2008-09 
			   2008 
			  Site  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December 
			 DWP 4,890,895 4,632,534 5,467,135 5,481,316 4,823,111 5,255,207 5,840,085 5,675,631 4,578,694 
			 JCP 279,358,470 250,206,608 290,661,873 302,481,658 271,781,484 308,875,532 302,104,417 266,874,017 179,521,943 
			 CSA 693,879 623,741 710,818 703,331 669,090 753,074 770,977 721,481 550,725 
			 AP 64,450 77,281 85,586 67,995 49,610 47,653 35,517 33,739 28,350 
			 ESF 35,240 58,541 63,781 48,604 51,520 57,699 54,395 62,070 44,399 
			 ICE 24,112 24,328 24,046 25,047 26,334 20,945 20,229 23,312 29,862 
			 IIAC 18,911 19,293 18,202 18,395 18,488 16,534 16,764 18,587 17,903 
			 SSCA 18,403 20,187 18,561 18,166 18,631 17,356 17,036 45,590 18,453 
			 ODI 52,021 57,474 53,154 58,098 48,873 (1)— (1)— 49,760 57,367 
			 DG-D (1)— (1)— (1)— 1,291,101 1,206,271 1,321,886 1,390,235 (1)— (1)— 
			 DG-C 327,393 279,429 315,728 321,083 298,200 331,579 357,209 357,971 265,159 
			 DG 50+ 434,884 294,965 321,516 336,221 349,620 389,937 400,452 416,613 304,269 
			 TPS (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 2,815,695 2,954,131 3,155,462 2,159,900 
			 Total 285,918,658 256,294,381 297,740,400 310,851,015 279,341,232 319,903,097 313,961,447 277,434,233 187,577,024 
		
	
	
		
			   2009 
			  Site  January  February  March 
			 DWP 7,693,486 6,311,548 7,648,495 
			 JCP 350,647,463 298,532,534 324,713,314 
			 CSA 901,912 741,673 (1)— 
			 AP 35,569 35,529 (1)— 
			 ESF 53,056 50,377 (1)— 
			 ICE 25,457 23,345 (1)— 
			 IIAC 19,055 17,811 (1)— 
			 SSCA 19,755 17,807 (1)— 
			 ODI 57,772 (1)— (1)— 
			 DG-D (1)— 1,566,846 (1)— 
			 DG-C 472,298 406,136 (1)— 
			 DG 50+ 678,359 565,034 626,209 
			 TPS 3,820,139 3,137,296 4,724,905 
			 Total 364,424,321 311,405,936 337,712,923 
			 (1) Not collected.   KEY:   DWP  Department for Work and Pensions:  www.dwp.gov.uk   JCP  Jobcentre Plus:  www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk   CSA  Child Support Agency:  www.csa.gov.uk   AP  Age Positive:  www.agepositive.gov.uk this site closed in February 2009   ESF  European Social Fund:  www.esf.gov.uk   ICE  Independent Case Examiner:  www.ind-case-exam.org.uk (DWP hosts the website but is not responsible for the content)   IIAC  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council:  www.iiac.org.uk (DWP hosts the website but is not responsible for the content)   SSAC  Social Security Advisory Committee:  www.ssac.org.uk (DWP hosts the website but is not responsible for the content)   ODI  Office for Disability Issues:  www.officefordisability.gov.uk   DG-D  Directgov Disabled People and Carers Sections:  www.direct.gov.uk/disability (Directgov operate the website but DWP is responsible for the content)   DG-C  Directgov Disabled People and Carers Sections:  www.direct.gov.uk/carers (Directgov operate the website but DWP is responsible for the content)   DG 50+  Directgov Over 50s Section (now re-titled Pensions and Retirement Planning):  www.direct.gov.uk/over50s (Directgov operate the website but DWP is responsible for the content)   TPS  The Pension Service:  www.thepensionservice.gov.uk   Notes:  1. Data is not held for the Health and Safety Executive website:  www.hse.gov.uk  2. Data is not collected for Now Lets Talk Money website: www.nowletstalkmoney.com  or Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force website: www.emetaskforce.gov.uk

Departmental Telephone Services

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria her Department uses to monitor the performance of its callbacks to telephone benefit claimants; and what percentage of customers who request a callback were contacted in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: I have asked the Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre Directorate Acting Operations Director, Stuart Griffiths, to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stuart Griffiths, dated 19 June 2009:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what criteria the Department of Work and Pensions uses to monitor the performance of its callbacks to telephone benefit claimants; and what percentage of customers who request a callback are contacted. [PQ 278377]
	I will respond on behalf of Jobcentre Plus (including Benefit and Fraud Directorate) and Pension, Disability and Carers Service.
	 Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre Directorate
	The criteria Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre Directorate use to monitor the performance of pre-booked callbacks is that 90% of callbacks are completed within 36 hours. This includes customers who answer their callback, and also customers who we are unable to contact after two telephone calls. Therefore, we call back 100% of customers who request it. If we are unable to contact a customer due to their unavailability, a letter is sent informing them that Jobcentre Plus has tried to telephone them, and to call us again if they still wish to make a claim.
	For 2008/09, 92.6% of callbacks were completed within 36 hours.
	For April 2009, 97.6% of callbacks were completed within 36 hours.
	 Benefit and Fraud Directorate
	Benefit and Fraud Directorate telephony teams aim to clear 80% of first time calls from customers, with approximately 20% referred for a potential callback. If a callback is required by the customer, this is emailed to benefit processing teams with an expectation that callbacks will be made within three hours of the initial customer contact. All customers requesting a callback will receive one.
	 Pension, Disability and Carers Service
	The information requested is not available in the Pension, Disability and Carers Service.
	I hope this reply is helpful.

Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what mechanisms are in place to ensure that  (a) her Department and  (b) contractors comply with relevant provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 in processing benefit claims from those with a mental health condition;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to ensure that  (a) her Department and  (b) contractors comply with relevant provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 in respect of those with a mental health condition in (i) allocating and (ii) administering work experience and work trial placements.

Jonathan R Shaw: All public authorities are subject to the Disability Equality Duty which requires them to pay due regard to promoting disability when carrying out all of their functions. Some public authorities are also required to publish a Disability Equality Scheme setting out how they will meet the Disability Equality Duty.
	The Department published Single Equality Schemes, incorporating disability, race and gender, in 2008. These schemes include a three-year action plan setting out how the Department and its agencies intend to meet their three Public Sector Duties and how they will equality impact assess their policies and practices against them.
	In respect of the Disability Equality Duty, they also set out how disabled people have been involved in producing the schemes and setting the direction of travel that would best achieve improvements in outcomes for disabled people. The scheme action plans are monitored and formal progress reports are published annually. All schemes and information can be found on the DWP website.
	Where the Department is providing services to the public, or delivering public functions, it is required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people to have access to those services or functions.
	There is mandatory training in place for all DWP staff to ensure they have the appropriate cultural and legislative knowledge to understand their responsibilities when developing policies or providing services for disabled customers, including those with a mental health condition.
	The provisions in place that ensure a contractor complies with the relevant provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 are contained in our standard terms and conditions. Section 37 "Unlawful Discrimination" states "the Contractor shall not unlawfully discriminate within the meaning and scope of the Race Relations Act 1976, the Sex-Discrimination Act 1975 or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 or analogous legislation which has been, or may be, enacted from time to time relating to discrimination in employment."
	Contract managers review compliance with disability discrimination legislation periodically as part of their supplier relationship management procedures.

Motability

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the savings which would accrue to her Department if cars used for the Motability scheme were changed every six years; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Motability is an independent charity and is responsible for the administration of the Motability Scheme. We have no reason to believe that this Department would accrue any savings if Motability changed their cars every six years.

New Deal Schemes

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons registered for each category of the New Deal programme at Jobcentre Plus in the last six months.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 June 2009
	Figures on new starters on the new deals are shown in the following table. The six-month period used here is up to and including February 2009.
	
		
			   Starters (individuals) in last six months 
			 New Deal for Young People 97,880 
			 New Deal 25-plus 51,330 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 90,040 
			 New Deal for Disabled People 16,190 
			 New Deal for Partners 1,110 
			 Total 256,550 
			  Definitions and conventions: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Notes: 1. Latest data is to February 2009. 2. The total starters exclude those customers on new deal 50-plus as these figures have been withdrawn pending an investigation of the data source. 3. This information is published at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/tabtool_nd.asp  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.

New Deal Schemes: Hertfordshire

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in East Hertfordshire have participated in a new deal programme in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The following table sets out the number of people who started participation in a new deal programme in the East Hertfordshire district in the last three years.
	
		
			   New deal starters 
			 2006 310 
			 2007 350 
			 2008 270 
			  Definitions and conventions: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Time series—year of starting: The calendar year of starting new deal. Latest data is to February 2009. 1. The totals for each year exclude those customers on new deal 50-plus as these figures have been withdrawn pending an investigation of the data source 2. The measure used for new deal for partners is starters (individuals) as spells are not available for this new deal. 3. Since June 2008, new deal for disabled people has ceased to operate as a national programme  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate.

Unemployment: Older Workers

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps her Department has taken to assist unemployed people over the age of 50 years to find work.

Jim Knight: The Government are committed to giving everyone the support they need to find employment as quickly as possible, whatever their age.
	A major factor in the employment of older people is employer behaviour. In addition to providing generic good practice guidance to employers, the UK's Age Positive initiative is working in partnership with business leaders to develop sector-based models of flexible retirement to support the increased employment and retention of older workers and the removal of fixed retirement ages.
	Our plans for the future include providing guidance to older workers on their options for working longer, encouraging employers to increase flexible work and phased retirement opportunities, and monitoring the impact of the economic downturn to identify which groups are being most affected and targeting further help where it is most needed.
	On the 6 April 2009, as part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the Department for Work and Pensions put in place extra support for newly unemployed customers, including information and advice about the latest job search techniques and coaching on how to make the most of transferable skills. Extra help for those who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for six months was also introduced, including opportunities to volunteer, support to become self-employed, recruitment subsidies and work-focused training.
	Since last autumn, the Department has also quadrupled the available funding for the rapid response service, which provides advice and support to customers facing redundancy. It has extended local employment partnerships, the adviser discretion fund and access to work so they are available to customers from the first day of their claim, alongside the support they receive from their Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.
	The introduction of the flexible new deal across phase 1 areas from October 2010 will give providers the freedom to offer personalised, tailored support to everyone who has been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 12 months, helping them overcome their individual barriers to work.
	This will be available to jobseeker's allowance customers of all ages to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance of finding work.
	In addition, the budget announced the future jobs fund and young persons guarantee. Future jobs fund places will be available for older people from disadvantaged areas who are facing significant barriers to employment.

Carbon Emissions: Government Departments

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards meeting the target of making the central Government estate carbon neutral by 2012.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Energy and Climate Change is currently leading work to define what is meant by carbon neutrality for Government and the private sector. Once this work is complete, Government will review the target for the central Government office estate to be carbon neutral by 2012 and the implications for departmental delivery.

Carbon Emissions: Research

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has  (a) conducted and  (b) commissioned on strategies to deliver a low-carbon economy.

Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has an ongoing programme of work on what a low carbon future for the UK might look like, including strategies for delivering a low carbon economy.
	As part of this DECC has conducted and commissioned a range of research, including to model scenarios for reducing energy system CO2 emissions, and worked with partners on analysis of possible technology options for the future of energy supply and demand.
	In addition, research has been carried out in other Departments to support policy development in this area. As part of its work to understand the costs and benefits of the Climate Change Act, DEFRA commissioned analysis of the costs of meeting the UK's climate change targets; and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commissioned a report to support the development of the Government's low carbon industrial strategy, which will be published in the summer.
	Government's analysis of policy options has also taken account of research commissioned and conducted by organisations outside Government, both in the UK and elsewhere.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps have been taken by his Department to improve the thermal efficiency of its buildings in the last 12 months.

David Kidney: Since DECC's inception, BERR and DEFRA manage the Department's estate. Given that, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs on 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 816W, and by my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1180.

Energy: Domestic Appliances

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of progress in introducing energy-efficient domestic appliances in the UK.

Dan Norris: I have been asked to reply.
	DEFRA's "Policy Analysis and Projections", published in July 2008, contains such an assessment. It also sets out how the efficiency of products will need to improve in order to meet the Government's targets of annual savings of 3.6-11 million tonnes of CO2 from efficient products by 2020, as set out in May 2007's Energy White Paper.
	The analysis was published after a full consultation in spring 2008 and can be found at
	www.mtprog.com/whitepaper.
	In line with the Government's commitment to consult annually on these projections the analysis will be issued for a second consultation in summer 2009. The second consultation will contain updated projections of the CO2 savings resulting from the introduction of energy-efficient products for both the domestic and non-domestic sectors.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards liberalisation of the European energy market.

David Kidney: I welcome the progress is being made on the development of the internal energy market, especially the recent agreement of texts for the third liberalisation package. This legislation will come into force early in 2011 and will benefit consumers through the development of more competition, especially between member states, and by enhancing security of supply. In order to improve the operation of the market, the UK is encouraging member states to implement early and on a voluntary basis those elements of the package related to transparency and co-operation between national regulators and system operators.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will undertake to provide sufficient funding to provide grants to all solar photovoltaic technology applications under phase 2 of the low carbon buildings programme which meet the eligibility criteria and which are submitted between 23 March 2009 and September 2009.

David Kidney: holding answer 16 June 2009
	 The Government have committed a further £45 million to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) in the recent Budget. This now brings support for the programme to over £130 million. The new funding will help to support more solar PV installations, alongside other renewable and low carbon technologies. Since December 2008 we re-allocated £9 million funds from within the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to solar photovoltaic and we recently announced that a further £5 million of the £45 million would be transferred to immediately support solar PV applications.
	We have put in place plans to extend Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 to support the full range of microgeneration technologies, including solar PV, from 1 July 2009. Further information is available from the Low Carbon Buildings Website:
	http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/

Renewable Energy

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average time taken for  (a) solar,  (b) photovoltaic,  (c) ground source heat pump,  (d) air source heat pump and  (e) biomass microgeneration technologies to produce savings equivalent to their cost; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: Payback periods are generally difficult to estimate accurately, because of the huge amount of variation that can come from system costs, system capacity and energy produced, fuel displaced, size of the house and energy prices from different suppliers. Payback periods will also depend on changes in energy prices in the future and as we cannot predict future trends in energy prices, it is very difficult to give an accurate payback period.
	The following table details average costs of systems for each technology type and the annual cost savings on fuel bills relative to each technology type where specific assumptions have been made:
	
		
			  Technology  Average total cost ex VAT  (£)  for LCBP funded installations (to end May 2009)  Possible cost savings from annual fuel bill (as published on EST website) 
			 Air source heat pump 7,400 £20 to £700 savings on fuel bills per year.(1) 
			 Ground source heat pump 10,800 £160 to £840 savings on fuel bills per year.(2) 
			 Solar PV 13,000 Approximately £190 saving on electricity bill per year.(3) 
			 Solar thermal hot water 4,100 Approx £50 to £85 saving on water heating bill per year.(4) 
			 Wood fuelled boiler 8,900 £170 to £410 per year if fuel displaced is solid fuel or electricity.( 5) 
			 (1 )Savings are approximate and vary depending on the fuel displaced. Assumptions are that the air source heat pump provides 100 per cent. of space heating and up to 50 per cent. of hot water, with the additional 50 per cent. provided by electric heater, in a detached property. (2) Savings are approximate and vary depending on the fuel displaced. Assumptions are that the ground source heat pump is installed in a detached property which provides 100 per cent. of space heating and up to 50 per cent. of domestic hot water, the additional 50 per cent. is met through an electric heater. (3 )Assumes a 2kWp system with 50 per cent. on site consumption with excess exported to the grid on a typical export tariff (A 2kWp system could provide over 40 per cent. of a household's yearly electricity needs). (4) Savings are approximate and vary depending on the fuel displaced. Savings are based on the hot water heating requirements of a three bed semi detached home with a 3.5 m squared panel. (5) If you replace a gas or solid fuel system with a wood burning system you may end up paying more for your fuel 
		
	
	Support for householders and communities has been provided through the low carbon buildings programme £131 million grant scheme which has helped with up front costs. The Government are committed to bringing forward feed in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive in April 2010 and April 2011 respectively. These incentives will also play a part in reducing pay back period.

Solar Power

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will provide funding for the manufacture of domestic energy generation products using photovoltaic technology.

David Kidney: holding answer 19 June 2009
	 A low carbon economy represents a huge economic opportunity and is at the heart of the Government's vision for economic recovery. Budget 2009 committed a further £1.4 billion in targeted support for the low carbon economy.
	The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) is the Government's £131 million grant programme which is supporting the installation of microgeneration technologies including solar photovoltaic. The programme is helping to build the supply chain for these technologies and creating a sustainable market. In addition, solar photovoltaic also receives support through the Renewables Obligation (RO). Since 1 April 2009, all microgenerators (50 kW and under) can apply for the highest level of support under the reformed RO (2 ROCs/MWh).
	We are committed to having Feed In Tariffs in place in April 2010. This will provide longer term support for solar photovoltaic industry giving business the confidence to make investment decisions.

Solar Power: East of England

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department has allocated to promoting take up of solar panel usage in  (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and  (b) the East of England since it was established; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: Between 2001 and 2006 over £41 million was committed to solar PV through grant programmes and field trials. Solar thermal technology, along with other renewable technologies, received support through the £12.5 million Clear Skies programme.
	Since 2006, solar PV and solar thermal installations have been supported under the £131 Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). Projects supported in Mid Bedfordshire constituency and the East of England region in each year since are as follows:
	
		
			  LCBP householder stream 
			   East of England  Mid Bedfordshire 
			   Grant offered  Paid amount  Grant offered  Paid amount 
			  2006-07 
			 Solar photovoltaic 367,707.32 228,187.66 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 99,600.00 78,800.00 1,200.00 1,200.00 
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Solar photovoltaic 68,765.00 172,673.68 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 52,800.00 62,000.00 800.00 800.00 
			  
			  2008-09 
			 Solar photovoltaic 183,794.80 138,134.80 9,420.00 2,500.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 102,400.00 96,800.00 3,200.00 2,800.00 
			  
			  2009-10 
			 Solar photovoltaic 37,260.00 19,420.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 17,200.00 14,800.00 800.00 1,200.00 
		
	
	
		
			  Phase 1: Communities( 1) 
			   East of England  Mid Bedfordshire 
			   Grant offered  Paid amount  Grant offered  Paid amount 
			  2006-07 
			 Solar photovoltaic 30,364.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Solar photovoltaic 5,173.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 0.00 5,276.50 0.00 0.00 
			  
			  2008-09 
			 Solar photovoltaic n/a 0.00 n/a 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water n/a 0.00 n/a 0.00 
			  
			  2009-10 
			 Solar photovoltaic n/a 0.00 n/a 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water n/a 5,173.00 n/a 0.00 
			 (1) Applications closed for the communities stream in April 2007 
		
	
	
		
			  Stream 2A (below £100,000) 
			   East of England  Mid Bedfordshire 
			   Grant offered  Paid amount  Grant offered  Paid amount 
			  2007-08( 1) 
			 Solar photovoltaic 36,353.50 n/a 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 43,549.90 n/a 0.00 0.00 
			  
			  2008-09 
			 Solar photovoltaic n/a 25,000.00 n/a 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water n/a 9,589.20 n/a 0.00 
			  
			  2007-08( 2) 
			 Solar photovoltaic 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Solar thermal hot water 26,546.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 (1) Applications closed for Stream 2A in September 2007 (2) Applications closed for Stream 2B in September 2007 
		
	
	 Low Carbon Buildings Programme—Phase 2
	Projects supported in Mid Bedfordshire constituency and the East of England region in each year since are as follows:
	 (a) There have been no accepted solar applications in Mid Bedfordshire for the duration of the programme.
	 (b) The following applications were supported in the East of England area.
	
		
			  East of England—value and number of project accepted per FY 
			   Solar PV  Solar Thermal 
			   £  Number of projects  £  Number of projects 
			 2006-07 58,988 1 9,805 1 
			 2007-08 443,206 23 15,502 7 
			 2008-09 847,511 40 137,034 14 
			 2009-10 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	Solar PV also receives support through the Renewables Obligation (RO). Since 1 April 2009, all microgenerators (50 kW and under) can apply for the highest level of support under the reformed RO (2 ROCs/MWh). We do not maintain data on the number of ROCs claimed per constituency or region.

Vesta

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with the Vesta turbine company the future of its factories in Southampton and on the Isle of Wight.

David Kidney: The Department and my predecessor have held discussions with Vestas regarding their announcement to consult on the future of their UK manufacturing capacity. No sector is immune from the economic downturn, and we are taking urgent action to ensure manufacturers can invest with confidence to supply the onshore and offshore wind markets, including the announcement in the Budget of up to £4 billion of new capital from the European Investment Bank that could support UK renewable energy projects, which should provide confidence for the onshore wind supply chain, and an intention to consult on a time-limited uplift in the level of support for offshore wind through the Renewables Obligation.
	I recognise that commercial decisions on the supply of turbines for renewable generation are a matter for the companies concerned. SEEDA, the local regional development agency, has established a task force to provide a package of co-ordinated support that provides the company and its employees with advice and guidance during the consultation period, including—if Vestas' consultation does lead to redundancies—support on every opportunity for seeking alternative employment, training and re-skilling.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to answer Question 241930, on fuel poverty, tabled on 4 December 2008.

David Kidney: holding answer 12 June 2009
	According to DEFRA's records the question was answered on 18 December 2008 but that answer never appeared in the  Official Report. The question has now been answered and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to question 241930. I apologise for the delay.